System and method for providing educational content over a network

ABSTRACT

A method of distributing educational content over a network is disclosed. Educational content is divided into topics and the topics are split into smaller educational units. Professionals reviewing the material for accreditation purposes choose particular units to study and are subject to minimum and maximum time parameters. The partitioning of educational topics allows advertisers to deliver episodic advertising over an extended time period.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/835,046 filed on Apr. 13, 2001, which claims the benefit of U.S.Patent Application Ser. No. 60/197,313, filed Apr. 14, 2000, entitled “ASystem And Method For Providing Educational Content Over A Network”, thecontents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods forconveying educational information and more particularly to a system andmethod for producing, publishing, and disseminating educational materialfor use by doctors, nurses, pharmacists, allied healthcare professionalsand other professionals and students, both those in training and inpractice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many professionals today are required and/or encouraged to receivecontinuing education in their particular field or discipline.Conventionally, this has been accomplished through the use ofprofessional seminars and/or home study materials. Some professions,such as the medical profession, require their members to receive acertain number of hours of continuing education over a certain timeperiod, such as every year, or every two years. Professions which havemandatory continuing education for their members, also have complianceentities to certify that members complete the education requirement. Theverification procedures followed by these compliance entities vary withthe category of continuing education required. For some categories ofcontinuing education, the verification procedure may simply entailshowing proof of attendance at a seminar. Other categories of continuingeducation require a seminar attendee or material reviewer to complete aquiz to be graded by a certifying authority. The quiz serves as anindication that the professional has “materially participated” in thecontinuing education process.

The growth of the Internet has led to new methods of providingeducational content to people. “Distance learning” or “remote education”are terms used to describe the provision of education over the Internet.Conventionally, distance learning providers receive certification fromprofessional organizations, which allows them to provide continuingprofessional education, by maintaining a testing requirement for thosetypes of education that require a professional to materially participatein the educational process. Unfortunately, the current testing componentrequired by conventional continuing education providers is inefficientand unwieldy. A method is needed whereby compliance entities may besatisfied that professionals have materially participated in thecontinuing education process and yet does not require the professionalsto undergo testing in order to prove that participation.

Moreover, professionals are often the target of on-line advertisers. Theadvertisers see the professionals as being more likely to havediscretionary income with which to buy products. Accordingly, theadvertisers place advertisements on web pages where the ads will be seenby the professionals. Unfortunately, advertisements become repetitiveafter being viewed multiple times and are therefore ignored. Ideally,advertisers seek to keep advertising content fresh for each user visitto a web site. Traditionally, the ability to distinguish between usersvisiting a web page has required resorting to privacy-intrusive methodssuch as cookies or user profiles. Cookies and user profiles are oftendisliked by web site users and their use may diminish the amount oftraffic at a web site.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides a methodof delivering educational content over a network. The method of thepresent invention delivers educational content in a manner thatsatisfies the compliance entities of professional organizations taskedwith the job of determining members compliance with continuing educationrequirements. Educational content is divided into topics and the topicsare segregated or grouped into smaller educational units. The variouseducational topics are referenced on an initial web page run by theeducational content provider. A professional visiting the initial webpage selects an educational unit to review. Once selected, theprofessional may review the educational content subject to minimum andmaximum time requirements designed to ensure participation in theeducation process. Failure to meet the minimum time requirementoptionally results in a message to the professional that theprofessional needs to continue reviewing material in order to receiveeducation credit that will satisfy the continuing education requirement.Failure to satisfy the maximum time requirement, i.e., exceeding themaximum time requirement, results in a message being sent to theprofessional that no educational credit will be granted for the reviewprocess.

The sequential nature of the educational content delivery used in theillustrative embodiment of the present invention also provides a methodenabling advertisers to deliver sequential or periodic advertising to auser without using privacy-invasive methods. Advertisements areoptionally indexed or associated with specific educational units. Theadvertisements are displayed when a professional returns to the initialweb page run by the educational provider following review of aneducational unit. Utilizing information regarding a professional'stravel within the educational site the advertiser delivers advertisingcontent that changes as the user completes the educational units of aparticular topic. Specifically, the advertisement can be delivered inparts or units, each of which is associated with a particular one orgroup of educational units. Since most professionals complete an entiretopic, the advertiser may be assured of repeat visits by theprofessional enabling the delivery of sequential advertising to theuser. Hence, the advertisements can be conveyed to the user in multipleparts, thereby retaining the user's interest.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an educational providerprovides access over a network to web pages containing educationalcontent. An initial web page holds references to other web pages holdingeducational content. A web browser running on a client device makes arequest for the initial web page which is then forwarded to the clientdevice. A user of the client device indicates the educational unit theuser is interested in and sends a request for that web page back to theeducational provider. The educational provider forwards the requestedweb page back to the client device. The requested web page containingthe educational content also contains an applet. The applet is executedas the web page is read by the web browser executing on the clientdevice. The applet starts an internal clock, such as on the clientdevice. When the user of the client device is done reviewing theeducational content contained in the requested web page, the userindicates completion and the applet stops the internal clock. The amountof time that elapsed while the professional was reviewing theeducational content is forwarded to the educational provider. Theeducational provider verifies that the elapsed time is greater than aminimum parameter and less than a maximum parameter. If the elapsed timesatisfies the minimum and maximum time parameters, the user of theclient device is sent a message indicating that they receive educationalcredit for their review of the educational unit.

In another embodiment, an educational provider provides access over anetwork to a plurality of web pages containing educational content forprofessionals. The educational content is grouped by topic and thetopics are divided into separate educational units. Each educationalunit is stored on a separate web page. An advertiser for the educationalprovider website provides a plurality of advertisements. An index on aninitial web page of the educational site operated by educationalprovider links each individual educational unit to a distinctadvertisement. When a user finishes a review of an educational unit andis returned to the initial web page, an advertisement linked (via theindex) to the just reviewed educational unit is displayed. The linkingof specific advertisements to specific educational units enables anadvertiser to display sequential advertising to the same user over aperiod of time.

In a different embodiment, a web browser operating on an electronicclient device interfaced with a network retrieves the initial web pageof an educational provider's website. The initial web page containsreferences to other web pages containing educational content. A user ofthe electronic device selects and retrieves one of the other web pagescontaining educational content the user is interested in reviewing. Whenthe retrieved web page holding the educational content is read by theweb browser executing on the electronic client device, an applet locatedon the web page is executed. The applet on the retrieved web page startsan internal clock on the electronic client device which is used to trackthe elapsed amount of time that occurs while a user of the electronicclient device reviews the educational content contained on the web page.Upon completion, the applet code stops the internal clock and determinesthe total elapsed time. When the user indicates completion of thereviewing process, the total elapsed time is forwarded to theeducational provider. The elapsed time is checked against a minimum andmaximum time parameter. If the elapsed time exceeds the minimumparameter and is less than the maximum parameter, the user of theelectronic client device receives notice that educational credit hasbeen granted for reviewing the educational content.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a network environment suitable for practicing anillustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of the website of an educational providerpracticing an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the sequence of steps followed by a user toreview educational content in the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the sequence of steps of a method of providingsequential advertising in an illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a depiction of a graphical user interface used in anillustrative embodiment of the present invention at the beginning of theeducational content review process; and

FIG. 6 is a depiction of a graphical user interface used in anillustrative embodiment of the present invention at the end of theeducational content review process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before we begin, we provide below some definitions.

The term professional is used herein to include, without limitation, anyperson whose professional work is based on a significant or specializedbody of knowledge or work experience, such as attorneys, doctors,nurses, engineers, accountants, airplane pilots, factory workers,seamstresses, and the like. A non-professional is someone who is notconsidered to be a professional.

A network is a facility that interconnects a number of devices andprovides a means for transmitting data from one attached device toanother. The term network is used broadly herein and is used to refer tointranets, extranets, IP networks, and the like.

A page is a storage container/structure designed to hold content. A pagedesigned to be accessed over the Internet is called a web page.

Content (educational content) refers to media content or data such astext, graphics, images and multi-media objects such as sound recordingsand moving video clips, as well as executable content such as softwarecode. The educational content may be displayed to a user in manydifferent formats such as question and answers, puzzles, and otherformats.

The term educational unit as used herein is intended to include contentof an educational, advisory or explanatory nature, such as contentdirected to an educational topic. The educational unit is sized andarranged to be reviewed or studied by itself or in conjunction withother educational units. The educational units are substantiallycomplete parcels of information or content that do not require referralto external resources. For example, the educational unit can containinformation pertinent to a particular subject, such that when reviewed,conveys all necessary information for understanding the subject to theuser. Alternatively, the educational unit can control the content sizeby providing links to other information. The use of links is intended tobe encompassed by the educational unit, and still forms a completecontent package. The educational units are considered capable of beingreceived alone, and preferably content that is meaningful, beneficial orimportant to a user. The educational units may be sized for transfer toelectronic devices with limited memory. One or more educational unitsmay be combined to form a topic.

The term advertising unit as used herein is intended to include parcelsof advertising content or information. The advertising unit can includea total, complete advertisement or part of an advertisement. If theeducational unit includes only a part of an advertisement, theadvertising unit can be viewed or associated with other advertisingunits, and particularly units that form a complete advertisement. Theadvertising unit, although complete, can also be viewed or associatedwith other units to form a larger advertisement or advertising topic.Hence, although each unit is a stand-alone, complete unit, it can beassociated with other advertising units. According to one practice, anadvertising unit can be indexed or associated with one or moreeducational units and displayed in connection therewith.

The term electronic device as used herein refers to devices capable ofexecuting computer instructions, interfacing with the network, and insome embodiments possessing an internal clock. The electronic device maybe a desktop computer system, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheldwireless device, cellular phone, pager, laptop or other similar device.A client device refers to an electronic device holding a subservientposition in a distributed server-client relationship.

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides a methodof delivering educational content over a network. The method of thepresent invention delivers educational content in a manner thatsatisfies continuing education compliance entities of professionalorganizations which are tasked with the job of determining membercompliance with continuing education requirements. Educational contentcan be divided into topics and the topics can be segregated or groupedinto smaller educational units so that professionals may studyeducational units of a manageable size. Topics are naturally occurringgroupings of information recognizable to a professional in the field ofstudy (as opposed to courses, which are collections of educational unitsassigned by an educational provider). The educational units are intendedto include content of the type that is substantially complete so that itcan be considered alone without needing to consider external resourcesby a professional or a non-professional. The educational unit cancontain content that is meaningful or beneficial to the user. The term“meaningful” as used herein is used to convey the concept that thereviewed content is important to the particular user. Because thecontent of a single educational unit is complete, professionalaccrediting entities are willing to extend continuing education creditfor reviewing single units. Since the educational units can be portionsof a larger educational topic, there is an increased likelihood ofrepeat visits by professionals as the professionals endeavor to completean entire topic. This likelihood of repeat visits allows an advertiserto deliver advertising in units over time as the user works their waythrough a topic. The ability to deliver advertising units or topics overtime allows episodic or sequential advertising directed to repeat users,and preferably associated with related educational units.

The systems and methods of delivering educational content over a networkdiscussed herein utilize electronic device applications which are knownas web browsers. Web browsers, such as Netscape Navigator, from NetscapeCommunication Corporation, of Palo Alto, Calif., retrieve web pages andexecute content (if any) contained in the web pages. The web pages areusually stored on a web server accessible over a network. The web pagesare written in a markup language, such as the Hypertext Markup Language(HTML) or the Extensible Markup Language (XML) and contain informationwhich is interpreted for display to a user by the web browser.

The majority of documents available on the Internet today are stored inHTML. HTML is a markup language that encodes a document via the use oftags and attributes. Tags appear between < > brackets, and attributesare specified in the form of “name=value”. HTML specifies the meaning ofeach tag and attribute and how text located between tags and/orattributes will appear. An example is a tag <p> which designates thebeginning of a new paragraph. A corresponding tag </p> designates theend of the paragraph. HTML documents are typically interpreted by HTMLinterpreters found in web browsers. Web browsers equipped with XMLinterpreters are required to translate and present web pages written inXML.

Conventionally, a user launches a web browser on a electronic clientdevice in order to view web pages over a network. The web browser may bepart of an application suite, such as Netscape Communicator, fromNetscape Communications Corporation, or it may be a stand-aloneapplication such as Netscape Navigator. The browser retrieves the webpage, interprets it, and displays it to a user. While interpreting theweb page, the browser may encounter an indication of an embedded“applet”. The indication is a tag “<applet>”. An “applet” is a programdesigned to be executed from within another application. Applets enableweb pages to include advanced effects, such as moving graphics andsound. Applets may be written in a multitude of languages, but manyapplets are written in Java (Java is a trademark or registered trademarkof Sun Microsystems, Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif. in the United States andin other countries). Java is an object oriented language specificallydeveloped to provide cross platform capability. The Java softwarearchitecture is designed to support platforms ranging from personalcomputers to embedded network devices. Web browsers which are equippedwith Java virtual machines (JVMs), can interpret the Java applets.

Once the web browser interpreter encounters a Java applet, the browserretrieves the code for the applet from an indicated source. The sourcefor the applet may be the original location of the web page, which isoften a web server. Alternatively, the source may be a different remotesource accessible over the network for which a uniform resource locator(URL) address is provided. The retrieved code is fed to the JVM forexecution. The result of the code execution may (in some instances) beshown by the web browser in the display presented to the user. Thisembedding of code enables whole programs to be included within a singleweb page merely by including a small applet to indicate the code source.

FIG. 1 depicts a network environment suitable for practicing anillustrative embodiment of the present invention. A web server 4 isinterfaced with a network 2. The web server 4 includes an initial webpage 6 which includes references to other web pages holding educationalcontent 8, 10, and 12. The initial web page 6 includes an applet 7which, when executed, retrieves the address of the site the web browservisited immediately prior to retrieving the web page. The retrieved webaddress is compared against the addresses of the other web pages holdingeducational content 8, 10, and 12. If the retrieved address matches theweb address of one of the other web pages 8, 10, and 12, the address iscross-indexed against a list of advertisements to determine whichadvertisement unit to display to the user. The other web pages 8, 10,and 12 on the web server 4, include educational content and an applet 14which causes a retrieving electronic client device to start an internalclock and track the amount of time a user of the electronic devicespends reviewing the web page. Also interfaced with the network 2 is anelectronic client device 16 including a web browser 18 with anassociated Java Machine 20. The electronic device 16 may be a desktopcomputer system, PDA, handheld wireless device, laptop or other devicepossessing an internal clock and interfaced with the network 2. Theelectronic device 16 includes an internal clock 22 capable ofindependently tracking time, and an accumulator 24 capable of storingdata such as the elapsed amount of time. The accumulator 24 may belocated in any memory location accessible to the electronic device 16.Those of ordinary skill will readily recognize that the clock can belocated anywhere in the network. The term clock as used herein isintended to include any structure capable of tracking or determiningtime. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the network 2 mayinclude the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network(LAN) or some other type of network. The physical media used in thenetwork may be telephone line, Ethernet cable, fiber-optic cable, or thenetwork may be a wireless network.

The educational content which is retrieved for review is stored on webpages. FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention which includes a web server 4 hosting a pluralityof web pages holding educational content. The web server 4 includes aninitial web page 6 and additional other web pages 8, 10, and 12 holdingeducational content 32, 34 and 36. The initial web page 6 acts as theentry into the educational website from locations outside the web server4 and includes an advertising display area 28. The advertising displayarea 28 allows an advertiser to display an advertisement to the user ofthe electronic device 16 when the web page is retrieved via the webbrowser 18. Each of the web pages 8, 10, and 12 holding educationalcontent 32, 34, and 36 include an applet 14 which is executed by theretrieving web browser 18 and causes the retrieving electronic device 16to start its clock 22. The clock 22 is used to track the amount of timea user of the electronic device 16 takes to review the educationalcontent 32, 34 and 36. The elapsed amount of time is used by theillustrative embodiment of the present invention to determine whether togrant continuing education credit from professional organizations and isdiscussed in more detail below. As noted above, when the initial webpage 6 is retrieved by a user of an electronic device 16 and the applet7 is executed, the applet on the initial web page determines whether thebrowser is retrieving the web page immediately after the user viewed aneducational unit. If the previous address in the retrieving web browser18 matches one of the web pages holding educational content 8, 10, and12, the applet 7 consults an index 38 stored on the web server 4. Theindex 38 links an advertisement unit to one or more educational units.The advertisement units can be different for selected ones of theeducational units. In some embodiments, the advertisements 40, 42, 44are located on the web server 4. In other embodiments, theadvertisements 40, 42, 44 may be located remotely to the web server 4 ata location accessible over the network. An advertisement linked to aneducational unit is displayed on the advertising display area 28 on theinitial web page 6. If the previous URL address of the retrieving webbrowser is not one of the other web pages 8, 10, and 12 hosted by theweb server 4, a default advertisement is displayed in the advertisingdisplay area 28. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the index38 may be stored either locally or at a remotely to the web server 4.

FIG. 3 depicts the sequence of steps followed in an illustrativeembodiment of the present invention. The method begins when anelectronic device retrieves the initial web page 6 stored on the webserver 4 (step 48). The initial web page 6 includes links to other webpages 8, 10, and 12 which contain educational content 32, 34, and 36.The educational content 32, 34 and 36, on the web pages 8, 10 and 12,corresponds to individual educational units which constitute part of, orthe entire topic. The user if desired, can select the educational unitthey wish to review (step 50). The web page holding the educational unitis retrieved by the user via the network 2 (step 52). If the userdesires to obtain educational credit from an accrediting entity, theuser logs in via dialog boxes and a login button. The process of loggingin starts an applet which in turn causes the electronic device 16 tostart an internal clock (step 54). The start time is stored in anaccumulator 24. Those skilled in the art will recognize that while Javaapplets are used for the purposes of illustrating the embodimentsdescribed herein, any sort of computer-executable code causing aretrieving electronic device to start and stop an internal clock wouldbe sufficient for the purposes of the present invention. The user of theelectronic device indicates they have finished reviewing the educationalcontent contained in the retrieved web page by logging out via dialogboxes and a logout button. Those skilled in the art will recognize thatother forms of graphical user interfaces or non-graphical basedprocedures may be used for the login and logout processes withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. The act of loggingout causes the internal clock to stop. The stop time is compared againstthe start time to determine an elapsed time. The user returns to theinitial web page (step 58) and the elapsed time amount is checked againa minimum time parameter stored on the web server 4 (step 59). If theelapsed time the user spent studying or reviewing the educationalcontent does not exceed the minimum time parameter, the user is sent amessage that further review is required and is returned to theeducational unit web page (step 52). Any additional time spent reviewingthe web page is tracked using the internal clock 22 and the accumulator24. Subsequently, the user may again indicate the completion of theirreview and return to the initial web page (step 58). If the elapsed timeis greater than the minimum time parameter (step 59) the accumulatedtime is checked against a maximum time parameter also stored on the webserver 4 (step 61). If the user has exceeded the maximum time parameterthe user of the electronic device 16 is sent a message indicating thatno credit for their educational unit review will be granted (step 62)and the user of the electronic device is returned to the initial webpage (step 48). If the elapsed time is greater than the minimum timeparameter and less than the maximum time parameter (step 59 and step 61)the user is sent a message indicating that credit will be granted forthe educational unit (step 64). The user of the electronic device 16 maywish to review more educational content (step 67), in which case theuser will select an additional educational unit from the initial webpage (step 50). If the user of the electronic device does not want toreview additional educational content (step 67) the user clicks theappropriate graphical user interface on the initial web page 6 and theelectronic device 16 breaks contact with the web server 4 (step 68).Those skilled in the art will recognize that the minimum and maximumtime parameters may be stored in other locations than the web server 4as long as the locations are accessible over the network 2.

The time parameters and educational unit size play a central role in theembodiments of the present invention. The minimum time parameterprevents a user of the electronic device from rapidly clicking their waythrough screens to satisfy an educational requirement. The maximum timeparameter prevents a user from clicking on to a site and then turningtheir attention to other matters for extended periods of time beforereturning to their electronic device 16 and indicating that they hadbeen studying for the entire time. The maximum time parameter combineswith the division of educational topics into smaller educational unitsto help ensure that the user is actually at their electronic device orconsidering the displayed educational unit. The small size andcompleteness of the educational unit provides a means for theprofessional or non-professional to learn in a convenient time efficientenvironment over a day, or over many non-contiguous days throughout thecourse of a year, while concomitantly earning continuing educationcredit (in the case of the professional). It is this manner of verifyingthat users are materially participating in the educational process thatallows accreditation authorities to extend continuing education creditwithout a testing requirement.

The educational units may be presented in many different formats to auser. In one format, the educational content 32, 34 and 36 is presentedin the form of an interrogatory, such as “The Question of the Day”.After a user has pondered the question for a sufficient amount of time,they may request the answer by clicking on a graphical user interface inorder to be presented with the answer. Both the time spent reviewing thequestion and reviewing the answer are considered for accreditationpurposes. A significant advantage of providing the posted educationalcontent in a question format, is that it allows the user to consider theappropriate response to the question, in order to invoke a thoughtfulresponse to the posted question. Another significant advantage of theeducational content format of the invention is that it can be dividedinto independent and separate discrete educational units, in the form ofa question and corresponding answer, which can form part of a larger setof questions or complete educational units, to form a course. However,the completeness of each educational unit still provides meaningfuleducational content to the user who does not wish or desire to take theentire course.

The structure of each question and answer offers a subtle means ofteaching. Each question and answer is written to appeal, for example toall levels of professional and non-professionals, such as the juniordoctor, lawyer, commercial airline pilot, as well as the seasoned expertin each specialty. For example, in an educational unit onAnesthesiology, the daily question and answer typically is structured sothat the beginning answer(s) contain(s) basic keywords and definitions.These keywords and definitions comprise a significant portion of theAmerican Board of Anesthesiologists Specialty Examination for boardcertification. As a result, the junior resident learns and is interestedby the question and answer format, since it provides a complete contentpackage without necessitating reference to external resources. Toeducate the seasoned clinician, the question and answer typicallyconcludes with a comparison of studies, a counter-intuitive fact, or arecent study questioning, augmenting, or updating traditional teaching.As such, each educational unit, due to its complete structure, is avaluable educational and advertising tool to interest the brand-newclinician through the seasoned professor.

The educational units can include, for example, a questions and answersformat designed to cover content of a specialty or sub-specialty and canemploy specific keywords for that specialty, as a guide to subjectareas. Each question and answer (e.g., unit) is a stand-aloneinformational unit of value. However, the sum of the units is ofadditional value, since the sum of the parts can comprise a reviewcourse in a particular specialty, thereby earning additional continuingeducation credit. As such, stand-alone information (such as a dailyQuestion of the Day) is packaged, over time, to create an added value.The daily question and answer are not created by simply dividing uplectures, video presentations or the like. Each days question and answeris a unit of meaningful complete informational content that can standalone as a valuable educational tool. The units are also configured sothat when grouped, they create a review course in a medical or otherspecialty or area, covering the content as so prescribed by thespecialty board of that specialty (if applicable).

In another embodiment, the educational content may be presented in theform of a crossword puzzle. The crossword puzzle or similar “game” isavailable every day of a week (or other time interval) and correspondsto that week's educational format or syllabus (or other part of thesyllabus). As the week progresses, the clues to the crossword puzzlebecome active links (hyperlinks) to the appropriate day's questions andanswers. As such, a reader trying to complete the daily portion of thepuzzle, when “stuck”, clicks on the available link to the answer. Thepuzzle feature also leads to many reader's recruiting the assistance oftheir colleagues in an effort to solve the puzzle. This serves as asubtle, yet significant novel and unique advertising method for theeducational site. Readers can use their personal password and personalpage, so that the answers completed are held in their personal puzzle(s)and the user can later retrieve in the puzzle. Completed puzzles canalso be used as verification of site usage for credit. This interactivegame feature encourages a user to continually access the educationalsystem to review the educational content or to complete the educationalgame. This multiple return usage feature or requirement allows theuser's performance and habits to be tracked. The information attainedfrom this tracking can be employed to tailor advertising morespecifically to the individual user, or to expose the user morefrequently to the sponsor's advertisements or advertising units.

Since the method of the present invention allows interested users toreturn to the site to participate in any selected number of educationalunits (e.g., questions), the web page can display advertising programswhere the advertising sponsor can also meter or parcel the advertisementover any selected period of time in the form of advertising units. Forexample, the system can dispense the advertising units in parcels ofinformation over days to months, as a result of being coupled to aparticular one or group of educational units.

A different embodiment may present the educational content in outlineform with hyperlinks to other web pages. Nonetheless, each educationalunit still forms a unit having stand-alone, complete, self-containedcontent. Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are a numberof different ways to present educational content to a user that areencompassed by the present invention, and that the educational contentfor a single educational unit is not necessarily restricted to beinglocated on a single web page.

The educational content and web page advertisements may be sent toanother professional or non-professional in order to expand the numberof users reviewing and receiving the educational content. The method ofthe present invention affords the user the ability to forwardadvertising content in addition to the educational content to a numberof different people. A graphical user interface on one of the web pagesholding educational content allows a user to forward the web page(content and advertising) to another electronic device. The size of theeducational unit facilitates the dissemination thereof to the device. Ifthe educational content and accompanying advertisement are sent byelectronic mail, the recipients email address may be recorded and storedfor later use.

The division of educational topics into smaller educational units storedon separate web pages affords the advertisers on an educational websitegreater flexibility. The advertisers may present sequentialadvertisements to users of the website with the knowledge that thewebsite users are likely to return for additional educational units. Inother words, if an educational topic has been split into multipleeducational units, it is likely that the user reviewing the educationalcontent will return to the website multiple times in order to review allof the educational content for the particular topic. Because the userrepeatedly returns to review the web page content, the system candisplay the advertising units in a sequential manner.

The relatively small size of the educational units has the additionalbenefit of enabling transfer of the web pages holding educationalcontent to small capacity client devices. Client electronic deviceswhich are able to interface with the network 2 are able to downloadeducational units even if they have limited memory storage spaceavailable. Advertisements are limited to a certain size to maintain thisbenefit. Thus handheld and other wireless devices may be utilized in thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart of the sequence of steps by which anadvertiser on an educational website is able to present sequentialadvertisements. The user of an electronic device 16 retrieves an initialweb page 6 of an educational site (step 70). The user of the electronicdevice 16 selects an educational unit to review (step 72). When the userfinishes reviewing the educational unit, the user is returned to theinitial web page (step 74). An applet 7 stored on an initial web page 6reads the previous URL address of the web browser 18 to determine wherethe web browser has been immediately prior to the initial web page (step76). If the previous URL address retrieved from the web browser 18indicates that the user of the web browser has just finished visiting aweb page holding an educational unit, the URL address is reconciledagainst an index 38 which cross references educational units withspecific ads (step 78). An advertisement based on the educational unitjust reviewed is then displayed to the user (step 80).

In one embodiment, when a professional wishes to receive educationalcredit for reviewing educational content the user logs in using dialogboxes and a login button on a retrieved web page. The login buttonstarts an internal clock on the electronic device which is used to trackelapsed time. A logout button stops the clock. An applet on the web pagereports the accumulated time to the educational provider for thedetermination as to whether applicable time parameters have been met.FIG. 5 depicts a web page including dialog boxes 81 for a Username andPassword, and a login button 82. FIG. 6 depicts a web page includingdialog boxes 85 for a Username and Password and a logout button 86.

In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a search methodis provided for the education content listed in the various educationalunits. The initial web page 6 employs content arranged in a selectedmanner that enables a user to search through stored web pages 8, 10 and12 based on particular user-defined content. For example, the user maysearch educational units based on the profession of the authors of theeducational unit. The search may include dates that allows a user todefine particular start and end dates between which a search can beconducted. Alternatively, the search may be made by a particularspecialty area, or question category. Particular search boxes may beused to allow a user to define a syllabus topic, a question content, ananswer content, or a reference content.

The user may also search an archive of previous questions by topic, textin the question or answer, or by the references. The search also allowsthe user the ability to broaden a search to retrieve questions andanswers from other educational units stored on other web page. Forexample, an obstetrician interested in a disease may be interested inthe anesthetic implications of this disease. The user can search for aselected key word on multiple specialty sites (selectable by the user)without navigating to other web sites (e.g., URL addresses). This searchfeature enables the user to seek data usually directed at otherprofessionals whenever necessary.

In one embodiment, the educational system disclosed herein generates aneducational content inquiry at a selected, pre-determined, or randomfrequency. According to one practice, the educational system can createa daily inquiry that provides for (1) educating professionals andstudents, (2) separate and distinct educational parcels or units, and(3) supplying continuing education to professionals andnon-professionals. The discrete educational units can be compiled orcombined to form a course of selected length and duration.

If a user desires to complete a course, which is comprised of a selectednumber of educational units, the user must complete at least a selectednumber of the total number of educational units. The user'sparticipation in the course, the frequency and duration of visits, aswell as other user and system parameters, may be used to determine whenand if the user completes the course. The user may be notified when theappropriate number of educational sub-units are completed. The readermay then be notified that if he or she submits payment, he or she willreceive credit for a number of hours of continuing education credit.This is a novel educational means of supplying continuing educationcredit in daily parcels (contiguous or not) and a novel business meansof inducing a reader to pay for something of significant value for thatreader, that he or she has already earned but is under no obligation topay for.

Each educational unit may be a stand-alone informational unit of value.However, the educational sub-units may be cumulatively employed to addor create additional value, since the sum of the parts comprises areview course for which credit can be allotted. As such, stand-aloneinformation (daily Question of the Day) is packaged, over time, tocreate an added value. The daily educational content question and answerare not created by simply dividing up lectures, video presentations orthe like. Each educational content question and answer is a parcel ofinformation that can stand alone as a valuable educational tool.However, the parcels are so designed, that when grouped, they create areview course in a particular specialty.

Each educational unit may be configured to appeal both to professionalsor non-professionals. The content may be structured so that the initialanswers to the questions contains basic keywords and their definitions,which can be utilized by the user when studying or training to passselected certifications or examinations. On the other hand, thequestions may appeal to the more experienced professional by employingcontent directed to a comparison of studies, a counter-intuitive fact,or a recent study questioning, augmenting, or updating traditionalteaching. As such, each educational unit due to its internal structureis a valuable educational and advertising tool that is focused andinteresting to professionals of all levels and to non-professionals.

In one embodiment of the present invention, using the educational unitquestion and answer format, the user may supply answers to the dailyquestion. The user's answers may be used to generate a user profile thatis updated periodically, giving that user immediate feedback regardingperformance. This educational model allows the user to focus attentionon specific weaknesses or strengths. The educational units may bealtered based on the user profile.

In an embodiment of the present invention, user-provided information isused to shape the content of subsequent educational units. A usercompleting an educational unit may respond via a dialog box or othergraphical user interface about the just completed unit. The educationalunit author may take this user-provided information into account forsubsequent educational units. This prompt effect on course curriculum isabsent in many continuing education programs.

It will thus be seen that the invention attains the objects madeapparent from the preceding description. Since certain changes may bemade without departing from the scope of the present invention, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in aliteral sense. Practitioners of the art will realize that the networkconfigurations depicted and described herein are examples of multiplepossible network configurations that fall within the scope of thecurrent invention. The network configurations are intended to beillustrative and not definitive. Likewise, the sequence of stepsutilized in the illustrated flowcharts are examples and not theexclusive sequence of actions possible with the present invention.

1. In a network, a method comprising the steps of: sending a requestfrom a user for a page having educational content over the network;receiving said page; displaying the content to a user; tracking andrecording the time the user views the educational content to ensure saiduser views said content for a time greater than or equal to a minimumtime period and less than or equal to a maximum time period.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the user receives continuing education creditfor viewing the educational content where said time is between saidmaximum and said minimum time periods.
 3. The method of claim 2 whereinsaid educational content is presented to a user in the form of a dailyinterrogatory and related answer.
 4. The method of claim 2 comprisingthe additional steps of: recording the amount of credit granted to eachuser; and providing the amount of credit granted to each user to saiduser upon request.
 5. The method of claim 2 wherein said method does notaward educational credit to a user of said electronic device forreviewing said educational content as a result of the recorded amount oftime exceeding a maximum time parameter.
 6. The method of claim 2comprising the additional steps of: sending a message to the userindicating an inadequate amount of time has been spent reviewing saideducational content, said message generated as a result of the recordedamount of time not exceeding a minimum time parameter; receivingsubsequently from said user a new recorded amount of time; and awardingeducational credit to the user based on said new recorded amount oftime.
 7. In a network, a method comprising the steps of: providing apage having educational content over the network; receiving a requestfor said page from a user; sending said page to the user; tracking andrecording the time the user views the educational content to ensure saiduser views said content for a time greater than or equal to a minimumtime period and less than or equal to a maximum time period.
 8. In anetwork, a method comprising the steps of: providing a page having oneor more educational units and one or more advertising units; associatingone or more of said advertising units with one or more of saideducational units such that said advertising unit is displayed inconnection with said educational unit.
 9. The method of claim 8 whereina plurality of said advertising units constitute an advertisement. 10.The method of claim 8 wherein said advertising units are indexed to saideducational units.
 11. The method of claim 8 wherein said advertisingunits displayed are specific to the user.
 12. The method of claim 8wherein said advertisement is part of a sequence of advertising, saidsequence of advertising being synchronized with the sequence ofeducational units.
 13. The method of claim 8 comprising the further stepof: forwarding said educational unit and an associated advertisement toa user-designated recipient.
 14. In a network, a method comprising thesteps of: providing a plurality of pages holding educational content,said educational content grouped by topics, said topics divided into aplurality of educational units providing substantially complete content,said educational units stored on said web pages; receiving a requestfrom a user of an electronic device interfaced with said network for oneof said pages; forwarding said page in response to said request;receiving an indication from said user that said user has completedreviewing said educational content.
 15. The method of claim 14 whereinsaid educational unit includes content for a professional user and anon-professional user.
 16. The method of claim 14 comprising theadditional steps of: grouping selected educational units so as to form acourse; registering said user for said course; and sending saideducational units forming said course to said electronic device forreview by said user.
 17. The method of claim 14 comprising theadditional steps of: providing user response to the author of saideducational units after said user reviews said educational units; andaltering other educational units based on said user response.
 18. Themethod of claim 14 comprising the additional steps of: presenting saideducational unit to said user in the format of a crossword puzzle;providing hyperlinks to the correct answers for said crossword puzzle;and using said crossword puzzle completion as a basis for awardingcontinuing education units to said user.
 19. The method of claim 14comprising the additional step of: providing a search feature for saideducational unit, said search feature searching multiple educationalunits on a plurality of web pages utilizing a single query.
 20. In anetwork, a method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of webpages, said web pages including educational units providingsubstantially complete content, said educational units stored on saidweb pages; receiving a request from a user of an electronic deviceinterfaced with said network for a search of said educational units; andsearching said educational units based upon a user-supplied professionof the author of said educational unit.